Friday, June 6, 2025

Pakistan Parliament Passes Bill to Curb Child Marriages

 Pakistan's parliament on May 19 passed a significant bill aiming to curb, discourage, and eventually eradicate child marriages in the federal capital by raising the legal age of marriage for both sexes to 18 years, the Christian Daily website reports today (June 6, 2025).


The bill has been sent to President Asif Ali Zadari for his assent.Once he signs it into law, it would apply only to the federal capital, Islamabad,and only district and sessions courts would handle related cases. The Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929 would no longer apply in the federal capital following enforcement of the law, but all past orders, decisions and judgments made under that act would still be considered valid. 


"In this modern day and age, we have the resources and research which invariably proves that child marriage is harmful to both genders, and especially girls, who have hit puberty and are able to bear children," states the bill. 


"Furthermore, child marriages  are in complete violation of the rights of children, and international obligations, and goal 5 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals focuses on gender equality and includes a target to end child marriage by 2030."

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